Book of Hours (Use of Paris)Electronic version according to TEI P5.1Fragmentarium - Digital Research Laboratory for Medieval Manuscript Fragments
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Hartford, CTWadsworth Atheneum Museum of ArtFifty Original Leaves of Medieval Manuscripts (Set 10), no. 30Book of Hours (Use of Paris)1420 - 1430This leaf is a fragment from the "15 Joys of the Virgin," an accessory text to Books of Hours common in 15th century France. The section contains fifteen two-part prayers: the first part appeals directly to the Virgin Mary, and recounts a happy moment from her life, and the second part entreats the Virgin for personal salvation. This leaf includes the 10-12th of these prayer sequences, as well as the beginning of the 13th "Joy of the Virgin." Moments from the lives of the Holy Family referenced in this leaf include the miracle of five loaves and two fish; the crucifixion; and the resurrection. The text is written in local language (French). As Drigsdahl has observed, much variation between language and content can occur between existing “15 Joys of the Virgin” passages, as scribes can feel inspired to take liberties when writing vernacular prayers in their own language.125 130180 18560 6090 90ff. 132
Item taped to matte verso side up; evidence of sewing holes on left recto and right verso; cropped text (possibly catchword) on bottom right verso.
red ruling (probably ink or plummet)
Gothic script, Northern Textualis
Illuminated borders and initials. Contains 6 illuminated initials, of 2 size patterns; 2-line initials indicate new prayer initiation sequence, and are decorated with gold and floral patterns; 1-line illuminated initials contain coloration and gold leaf, but no floral illustrations; border: narrow two-part line (exterior gold, interior blue/red) by text on side of page opposite gutter, with sprouting rinceau surrounding ¾ of text. Rinceau with gold trefoil leaves, red/white flowers, blue/white flowers, and spiny green leaves (according to Ege, possibly daisy, thistle, cornbottle, and stock); includes line-fillers: ½ red, ½ blue, gold circle in center, white line pattern.Offerred by Bernard Quaritch cat. 240 (1905), no. 230 and cat. 290 (1910), no. 253;
Sold by Quaritch to C. L. Ricketts in 1922;
C. L. Ricketts, in S. de Ricci, Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada I:634, no. 116;
Sold by Parke-Bernet Galleries, 23 February 1939, lot 217;
Dismembered by Otto Ege or an associate;
Leaves used as No. 30 in Ege's "Fifty Original Leaves of Medieval Manuscripts" portfolio;
Acquired by Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art at an unknown dateDrigsdahl, Erik. "Introduction and Tutorial on Book of Hours." CHD Center for Håndskriftstudier i Danmark. Web. 02 Dec 2017Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts. The Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies, University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Web. 06 Dec. 2017: SDBM_MS_8853.